Chapter 1: Five Years Later
The sun was setting over the city skyline, casting long shadows across the balcony. Adrian Blackwood stood at the railing, a glass of bourbon in his hand, watching the world go by. It was almost like a mirror of his life—moving quickly, but with a sense of stillness within him that had only come with time.
Five years had passed since graduation. Five years since he'd stood on the edge of that lake with Harper, uncertain of the future but ready to face it. In those five years, he'd let go of the past, or at least made peace with it. The weight of his father's legacy wasn't a shadow anymore—it was a quiet part of him that didn't define him. He had his own path now, and it felt right.
"Hey, you," came a soft voice from behind. Harper's voice, always warm, always certain, had a grounding effect on him. He turned to find her standing in the doorway, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. She looked the same, but different in a way. There was a quiet confidence in her now that matched the one Adrian had finally found within himself.
"Hey," he replied, his smile reaching his eyes. "You all settled in?"
Harper nodded as she stepped outside, walking over to join him at the railing. She leaned into him, her hand brushing against his, the gesture still as natural as it had been five years ago. "I think so," she said with a small laugh. "Though, I think I'll need a few more days to fully unpack. But I'm getting there."
The two of them had come a long way since then. Their apartment—though far from perfect—was a reflection of the life they had built together. There were still uncertainties about the future, of course. But with Harper, there was always a sense of home, a sense that no matter what, they would face everything together.
Adrian took a deep breath, turning his gaze back to the city below. "It's crazy," he said quietly. "I still can't believe how far we've come. Back then, I had no idea where I was headed."
Harper squeezed his hand, her thumb running over his knuckles. "And look at you now," she said with a playful smirk. "You're running your own business, and we're here, in this beautiful place. You did it, Adrian."
He chuckled, but it was a soft, knowing sound. "I had a lot of help getting here. Don't forget that."
Harper smiled, her eyes softening as she gazed at him. "You helped yourself too. You've grown so much. I'm proud of you."
He felt that same sense of pride in himself too, a quiet but powerful realization. He wasn't the same person he was five years ago. The anger, the guilt, the confusion—he had worked through all of it. With Harper by his side, he had come to terms with who he was and who he wanted to be. The future was still a bit hazy, but it was his to shape.
"You've been here with me every step of the way," Adrian said, his voice full of gratitude.
Harper reached up to brush a lock of hair from his forehead, her touch gentle and familiar. "And I always will be."
Adrian took another sip of his drink, the burn of the alcohol not as strong as the warmth inside him. "I guess we've both come a long way, huh?"
"Yeah," she agreed. "But there's still a lot left to figure out."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "You mean, like the wedding we still need to plan?"
Harper laughed, shaking her head. "Well, that too. But I meant... everything. You've grown, Adrian. But I know there's still more to uncover. And that's okay. I think we're both still figuring things out, and that's part of it."
Adrian smiled softly, his heart warm at the thought. "You're right. But I'm not afraid of it anymore. I'm not afraid of what comes next." He looked at her, the full depth of his feelings washing over him. "With you, I know I can handle whatever life throws at us."
Harper met his gaze, her own eyes shining with that quiet, steady love he had come to depend on. "I know we can. Together."
But before Adrian could respond, his phone buzzed on the nearby table. Harper looked at him curiously, a small frown forming on her face. Adrian hesitated, then picked it up.
His heart skipped a beat when he saw the name on the screen.
It was a message from Rachel.
"I found something. You need to see this."
His hand tightened around the phone, a chill running down his spine. The last time Rachel had said those words, it had set off a chain of events that tore apart everything Adrian had thought he knew about his father.
Harper noticed the shift in his demeanor. "What is it?" she asked, concern flickering in her eyes.
Adrian swallowed hard. He wanted to ignore it. To leave the past where it was. But the nagging question had never quite gone away.
"I don't know," he said softly. "But I think I need to find out."